Bid to find body of Suzanne Pilley 10yrs af ter death
A FRESH bid to find the body of murdered bookkeeper Suzanne Pilley has been launched ten years after she disappeared.
The 38-year-old was killed by former lover David Gilroy in May 2010 after she ended their relationship.
Former Royal Navy engineer Gilroy, 57, was jailed for a minimum of 18 years for the crime but has never disclosed the location of her remains. Despite several extensive searches over the years, focusing on the Rest and Be Thankful viewpoint in Cowal and the nearby Argyll Forest Park, where it is believed Gilroy hid her body, no trace of Miss Pilley’s remains has been found.
Chief Superintendent Stuart Houston, from Police Scotland’s Specialist Crime Division, said yesterday: ‘I am entirely confident that justice was served in terms of Suzanne’s murder. However, it is deeply regretful that, as of now, we have been unable to recover her body and bring a sense of closure to her family.’
The detective in charge of the initial probe yesterday told of his regret at not being able to bring a measure of peace to Miss Pilley’s family.
Her father, 77-year-old Robert, died in February last year without ever knowing his daughter’s final resting place. Superintendent Gary Flannigan said: ‘It’s my one regret that despite the success I had in various homicide investigations, we were never able to find Suzanne for her family.’
Miss Pilley’s family are leading a campaign to force Gilroy,
‘Give her burial she deserves’
who worked with his victim, to reveal where he hid the body.
They are putting pressure on MSPs to force through legislation which would prevent the release of murderers who have yet to give up the final resting place of their victims.
Gail Fairgrieve, 53, Miss Pilley’s sister, said: ‘For the past decade we have lived in a state of limbo, waiting for the news that Suzanne’s body had been found.
‘I plead with anyone who knows something but hasn’t come forward to search their conscience and get in touch.
‘Please let us give her the burial and send-off that she deserves.’